Alberta man who sexually assaulted child, left for dead

STONY PLAIN, Alta. – A man who sexually assaulted a seven-year old girl and left her for dead on an Alberta First Nation has been sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Judge Charles Gardner also gave James Clifford Paul nearly two years credit for time already served.

Paul, who is 22, admitted to being drunk and high on methamphetamine at the time and told police he wouldn’t have done it if he had been sober.

Paul attacked the girl on Dec. 20, 2014, on the Paul First Nation, west of Edmonton, and family members found her outside, naked and suffering from hypothermia.

She was in a coma for five days and awoke on Christmas Day.

Crown prosecutor Jason Neustaeter says the young girl has a brain injury and requires 24-hour supervision.

Paul pleaded guilty in November and court heard he and the girl had been walking along a trail on the reserve towards a convenience store, when he sexually assaulted her.

Paul walked away and got annoyed at the girl for following him. He started beating her and left her battered body in the bush.

Other people walking on the path found the child, took her to a house and called 911. When she arrived at hospital, she was unresponsive and hypothermic.

Paul was arrested on the nearby Alexis First Nation.

(CHED, The Canadian Press)